Before he was old enough to drink alcohol, Matt was busy fermenting wine from fruits in the garden and brewing beer from recipes found in old books. He found the process of fermentation and creation to be fascinating.
A few years later, after tasting a range of vodkas one evening, we realised that vodka needn't be a tasteless liquid. It could have character and be smooth enough to enjoy on its own.
This experience changed our perception of vodka.
A truly delicious vodka could be sipped and enjoyed in the same way that we would with a whisky or brandy. Different spirits of course, but the drinking experience could be on the same level.
This realisation set us on the path to creating our own sipping vodka. We had the desire to create a spirit that was of the highest quality.
A vodka aimed at those seeking a drink to savour rather than guzzle - the ultimate vodka! In 2016, Wild Knight English vodka was the result.
Choosing barley as the base was a natural choice for us. It is grown in the fields around us in Norfolk and used to make the very finest drinks around the world.
From the barley we make an unhopped beer and this is distilled in a copper still to create a very smooth spirit. We don’t chill filter our vodka and this ensures that the taste of the barley grain shines through.
We wanted to celebrate a spirit of adventure and the heritage of Britain. 'Wild Knight' sums up all the fun, enjoyment and traditional British spirit that we wish from our vodka.
The launch of Nelson's Gold in 2017 continued our drinks journey. Our caramelised spirit has proved to be a real crowd-pleaser and a medal winner at the International Wine & Spirit Competition and a Great Taste award winner.
In June 2018 we launched Boadicea Gin – ‘Classic’ (blue bottle). Distilled in one of our copper-pot stills and with notes of citrus, thyme and nettle.
Boadicea has received amazing feedback from lovers of premium gin and has won medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Gin is a flavoured vodka, so the production of gin was a seamless step.
Boadicea Gin ‘Spiced’ (red bottle) followed in the winter of 2018.
April 2019 saw the launch of Boadicea Gin ‘Rosa’. A delicious distilled pink gin with subtle notes of peach and cherry.
Our Nelson’s Gold is such a popular drink and it got us thinking about how we could extend our vodka range further. The next favorite was the Wild Knight Espresso Martini. We capture the deep and complex flavours of single estate espresso coffee and combine them with our smooth sipping vodka to create a hugely popular drink.
In September 2019 we launched it at a food festival and the bottles sold out within the first two hours.
In August 2020, we were delighted to win a Silver Medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) for our Wild Knight Espresso Martini.
Authenticity and the highest quality are crucial to us. We chose barley as the base for our spirits, partly because it grows in the fields all around us in the Royal County of Norfolk.
It has been grown commercially here for over 500 years and the Iceni were brewing from wild barley when the Romans arrived.
The light sandy soil over chalk and the local maritime microclimate are ideal for growing the highest quality barley.
The world's finest beers and whiskies use Norfolk barley, so it was a natural choice for us. Not just because it's local, but because it's also the finest we can use for our premium spirits.
Precision during the distillation process is crucial to creating spirits that are smooth on the palate and do not burn.
As it warms during distillation, only the pure heart of the distillate is retained for bottling.
This ensures that all the headache-inducing elements and harsh flavours are eliminated without the need for further filtration – essential if you love enjoying our drinks as much as we do!
Our ethos - we create authentic, premium spirits with real provenance and personality.
Why don’t you share with us the spirits you love and how you enjoy them? You can find us on socials - search for Wild Knight Distillery.
Cheers,
Matt and Steph